Compare towns
Bedford vs Douglas vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($1208k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bedford | Douglas | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
9,207 |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.3±4.1Lowest 6% above MA |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lincoln and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA |
$175,117±$44kHighest 68% above MA |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43k 60% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$1,208,200±$132kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327 49% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lincoln and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #7 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Douglas | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Douglas High School | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.